Doing being an ordinary technology and social media user

This paper uses discourse and conversation analysis of naturally-occuring conversations to describe how participants construct themselves as “ordinary” users of communication technologies—devices such as mobile phones, their communicative affordances, and the mediated interaction they enable (e.g.,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Language & communication 2018-05, Vol.60, p.150-167
Main Authors: Robles, Jessica S., DiDomenico, Stephen, Raclaw, Joshua
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accounts
Computer mediated communication
Conversation analysis
Digital media
Discourse analysis
Electronic devices
End users
Identity
Interpersonal communication
Mobile communication systems
Mobile phones
Social media
Social networks
Stance
Technology
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Summary:This paper uses discourse and conversation analysis of naturally-occuring conversations to describe how participants construct themselves as “ordinary” users of communication technologies—devices such as mobile phones, their communicative affordances, and the mediated interaction they enable (e.g., access to online communication via social media platforms). The three practices analyzed are (1) managing motivations by downplaying interest and stake in using technology and participating in online activities; (2) calibrating quantities of one's time and involvement using social media; (3) identifying investments in social media use through categories and identities that position users as appropriate or inappropriate. These techniques comprise an accounting practice that accomplishes identity construction in service of situated social actions to manage the moral implications of communication technology use. •Conversational participants orient to certain uses of new technology and social media as accountable.•Participants manage motivations, quantify behaviors, and assess identities to normalize technology-related behavior.•In-situ judgments of technology conduct construct norms for appropriate use of smartphones, social media, social networking.
ISSN:0271-5309
1873-3395
DOI:10.1016/j.langcom.2018.03.002